RIP, Mr. Avis.

I learned several interesting tidbits in hearing the news today, though. Avis, in addition to being the first to locate at airports, was the first to use brand new cars instead of used ones. He figured that it made sense for the automakers to have people experience the new models as rentals. Apparently somewhat related he set up a program for people to have an Avis credit card so they wouldn't have to leave big cash deposits for those new cars they were driving away in. And "We Try Harder" has been their slogan for well over 40 years!

He had sold the company decades ago (and it's been sold and sold ever since), but in the time he was involved he appears to have shaken up the industry pretty well into something much closer to what we see today. They told him at the time that airport rental wouldn't work because people didn't want to arrive on a plane then deal with getting around an unfamiliar city. Ha! We Try Harder, indeed.